The Committee, within its oversight function and pursuant to the Rules of Procedure, heard information about the fulfillment of the assignments stipulated under the transitional provisions of the Law on Social Activity and the action plan for the agencies, introduced by the Deputy Health Minister, Tamila Barkalaia.

She dwelt on the implementation of the law by the agency, its progress and challenges: “Backed by the UNICEF and the Association of Social Workers, in view of the formation of an improved social activity system and the fulfillment of the legal commitments, we have developed various legal acts, developed the social activity standard describing the professional benchmarks to be fulfilled by the social workers engaged by the organization”.

She overviewed the actions aiming to meet the standards and stated that in agreement with the professional community and the Association of Social Workers, the Legal Act on Code of Conduct is already prepared for submission to the Government.

The typified provision of the regional centers of the territorial units of the Care Agency has been approved prescribing the structure, authority and activity rule of the centers.

“We announce the vacant positions for the qualified social workers. We added 20 vacant positions this year and provide 30 opportunities, though the challenges in the regions remain related to the absence of professional social workers and hence, we find it difficult to maintain the high standard”, - she added.

The Deputy Education Minister, Ekaterine Dgebuadze dwelt on the standard of the education social worker: “The standard is ready and we have already received the feedback by various agencies and start the approval process”.

According to her, the assignment of the Ministry for 2021 is to engage 50 social workers through the competition. 28 persons have already been selected. “Similar to the Health Ministry, we encountered the difficulties in finding the social workers in the regions and we expect these vacant positions to be soon occupied”, - the reporter added speaking about the qualification programs for the social workers.

The Deputy Justice Minister, Tornike Cheishvili introduced the report of the Ministry and overviewed the penitential system, probation and regulations by the Enforcement Bureau.

“The 24-hour response mechanism is very active in the penitential system since both – convicts and the accused persons are under 24-hour monitoring as necessary. We may not encounter an acute need in the probation system but we share the responsibility envisaged under the Law and launched a call operator to serve the minors, though the area will be further extended”.

According to the Deputy Regional Minister, Mzia Giorgobiani, there are 10 municipalities left that failed to introduce the changes to the provisions as they are waiting for the sittings of the City Assembly. “We presume these 10 municipalities will fulfill their commitments. They are actively engaged in the enforcement of the Law”.

She dwelt on the deficit of qualified personnel.

The experts and NGOs expressed their positions and outlined several challenges, which will be further addressed according to the Chair of the Committee, Mikheil Sarjveladze.

According to him, it is important to make every citizen feel the progress in enforcement of the Law. He overviewed the solutions for the challenges, qualification of the workers, funding and enforcement terms. “We heard so much interesting information today. The Committee will develop the recommendations for the respective agencies. Such meetings will continue and we intend to hold a working meeting to discuss certain initiatives expressed today. We outlined the problems requiring our response and I am glad that there is no problem in fulfillment of the obligations as of June 1, especially against the background when we have already had to extend the terms due to the pandemic. We already enjoy the progress, cherish plans and further activities and I believe, we are on the right path as we have already solved many problems that were outlined months ago and the problems were acute. I would like to thank everyone for contributing to the solution of the problems and particularly thank all MPs, organizations, experts and the former Chair of the Committee for their immense work in the development of the Law. I cannot even imagine how this sphere operated before the reform and I guess, it was at the expense of the devotion of the social workers and I express my greatest respect and gratitude to them”, - he stated.